Progress continues as the Yadkin County Arts Council work towards opening the doors to the final phase of its building. The theater is set to open its doors to the public on September 15 for the Harvest Festival.

Advertisement

The arts council began its fundraising effort titled “Take A Seat” earlier this year, allowing anyone interested to purchase a plaque with a name of his or her choice printed on it to be placed on the theater chairs.

The arts council has sold 63 percent of the theater seats so far, which equates to about 123 seats out of 193.

“We’re going to start putting up the walls this week,” Stephen Lyons said. “You’re going to be able to start seeing the actual shape of the theater coming together. They’re out there now working on the sprinkler system and the heating and air conditioning, and we’re hoping to have that done in about three weeks.”

Lyons said that miles of electrical conduits have already been installed that will aid in the audio and visual portions of the theater and performing stage.

“We are also doing what is called the cloud construction,” Lyons said. “The cloud is actually a suspended ceiling that hangs down between the tresses above the audience. It’s actually more for audio purposes because it bounces the sound off the flat surface.”

Lyons says that there are three pieces to the construction of the cloud and contractors are currently fabricating the support for it.

The council is still seeking out additional grants and sponsors to fund further construction of the theater. BB&T approved a $25,000 grant a few months ago and the council has received additional money from individuals who have contributed to the capital campaign.

“We are at a good place because once a foundation sees that other foundations are supporting us then they tend to be a little more open towards granting us more money,” Lyons said.

Lyons says the official grand opening gala is set to take place on October 12. The first event will be by invitation only. The opening night will feature a performance of a musical called “The Old Timey Radio Show.”

On October 13 the same show will be presented for the public.

Future performances slated are the Kruger Brothers on October 19 and the first Friday night movie on October 26.

“We will probably start off with a series of movies set by a specific genre,” Lyons said. “Our movie schedule depends on what kinds of shows and performances we have going on but we’re hoping to show movies bi-weekly.”

The arts council is working with its artistic director Ron Thompson. Thompson is a professor at North Carolina School of the Arts and he is helping to set up the gala and performances.

“We are talking with Thompson about a stage production that he has produced and that’s currently showing in San Francisco,” Lyons said. “It’s a Christmas story and I think it’s a good chance that we’ll be having the first east coast performance of that play.”

Lyons says that while the theater is slated to be open for the Harvest Festival it will not be ready for performances.

“The reason for that is we have to learn how this theater is going to work,” Lyons said. “We have to learn the mixing boards and audio and visual connections. There are all sorts of stage lighting and it’s a professional theater and so there are all these different aspects of it that we have to learn before we use it.”